Gen Robert W. Cone, commanding general of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, congratulated the winners of the 2012 TRADOC Instructors of the Year during the 24th Annual TRADOC IOY Awards May 22 at the TRADOC Headquarters on Fort Eustis, Va.
Instructors were judged on their tactical and technical knowledge, communication skills, appearance and military bearing. Their contributions to training, including literature development, research and article publication are also considered.
"Congratulations to all of you," Cone said. "To be recognized as the best really says a lot about you, your personal standards and your commitment to excellence. This is what it's all about in the TRADOC school system -- setting high standards and sharing your tremendous knowledge with students."
In honor of their achievements, each of the seven winners received an Instructor of the Year plaque and TRADOC coin during the ceremony.
Educator of the Year Lt. Col. Celestino Perez Jr., from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., was thankful to receive such honors.
"I'm happy for the college," Perez said. "Each department is filled with very good instructors, and it is an honor to represent them."
Like Perez, Marine Staff Sgt. Erin Rios, TRADOC's Noncommissioned Officer Instructor of the Year from the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., also highlighted the talents of her fellow instructors, attributing her recognition to her passion for teaching.
"I just like to teach," Rios said. "I've seen instructors that are just as good, if not better than me. I know they can compete all the way up also; they just have to start with the instructor of the quarter."According to Rios, she probably would not have competed if her team leader didn't ask her to participate in the 2011 Motor Transport Instruction Company's Instructor of the Quarter competition.
The 2012 Instructors of the Year:
Officer Instructor of the Year: Maj. Maria Lindsey, U.S. Army Financial Management School, Soldier Support Institute, Fort Jackson, S.C.
Warrant Officer Instructor of the Year: Chief Warrant Officer 3 Cecilia McCann, Army Logistics University, Technical Logistics College, Fort Lee, Va.
Noncommissioned Officer Instructor of the Year: Staff Sgt. Erin Rios, Maneuver Support Center of Excellence, Non-Proponent Group, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
Civilian Instructor of the Year: David Barton, Army Logistics University, Staff and Faculty Development Office, Fort Lee, Va.
National Guard Instructor of the Year: Staff Sgt. Nicholas Ash, Army Mountain Warfare School, Jericho, Vt.
U.S. Army Reserve Instructor of the Year: Michael Gibson, Army Reserve Readiness Training Center, Fort Knox, Ky.
Educator of the Year: Lt. Col. Celestino Perez Jr., U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Department of Joint, Interagency and Multinational Operations, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
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